OZ Architecture’s Jami Mohlenkamp Influences Design Communities with 2018 Speaking Engagements

OZ Principal Architect Jami Mohlenkamp racked up the speaking engagements during the latter half of 2018, sharing his experience and insight into designing for the older adult community with multiple local events, including at the Legislative Caucus on Aging, CREJ Senior Housing Conference, Denver Public Library, Denver Startup Week, and AIA Colorado.

Legislative Caucus on Aging

In February of 2018, Jami spoke at the Colorado State Capitol’s Legislative Caucus on Aging, organized by the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging in partnership with Aging 2.0. His talk shed some light on current housing options for the aging, with ideas for how older adult populations can maintain dignity and independence in their later years. Jami referenced how tiny homes offer energy-efficient and affordable spaces that can be both wheelchair- and walker-friendly. He also touched on ideas of transportation, considering how smart vehicles with accessible ramps may not be too far into the future. Overall, Jami encouraged thinking outside the box in terms of what a senior care community can look like to ensure older adults remain a vital part of our communities.

CREJ Senior Housing Conference

Earlier this year, Jami moderated the 2018 Senior Housing Conference & Care Expo in Denver, Colorado, hosted by the Colorado Real Estate Journal (CREJ). The conference drew nearly 500 guests to engage with speakers on housing and development for the aging. The panel included two other principal architects as well as a construction manager and project director, and each contributor answered questions about increasing costs, exciting innovations and creating vital communities. Jami presented OZ Architecture project, Parkside at Summit Park, an urban-based location which is intended to provide positive connectivity to younger generations thanks to the urban-based, market-rate apartments to one side of the community, and offices and retail to the other. A park on the north side of the community provides access to the outdoors and nature without losing the city life connection.

Denver Public Library – Aging Series

This year, Jami participated in a two-part session hosted by the Denver Public Library about how older adults can not only age in place, but age in the right place. Jami spoke to ideas of what an age-friendly city looks like, how housing innovations help people stay comfortably in their homes, and how Denver’s economy plays into it all. In collaboration with AARP, this program was part of the library’s Connected & Creative Aging Series.

Denver Startup Week Denver Startup Week is an annual weeklong assembly of creative and entrepreneurial leaders, with speakers in categories from designer, to developer, to growth, and more. During this year’s DSW, Jami spoke about how design and architecture is evolving to meet the needs of an aging population. Even something as simple as upright walking sticks instead of a bent-over walker can affect how we age and thrive in our older years. Specifically, he spoke about innovative designs — such as stacking different levels of care throughout a high-rise building, staggering green spaces and terraces in between—can make a world of difference when it comes to how older adults experience the world.

AIA Colorado

At the AIA Colorado 2018 Practice + Design Conference, Jami spoke on a panel about what it means to practice resourceful and creative design for older adults. The panel referenced the shift in demographics of people living longer, and how we can adapt to the economic shift by creating innovative solutions that combat challenges and promote opportunities. Jami shared his unique perspective on designing for aging populations, and why this matters to the future of Colorado.

Jami and OZ Architecture, engaging in ways to educate others about designing for aging populations is all part of how we ensure we all experience dignified and empowered living in the future.

To learn more, visit our senior living page.